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By Greg Hardwig
Naples News
October 3, 2006
Just three weeks after having his left hip replaced, Peter Jacobsen already is hitting balls. For the Bonita Springs resident, that's enough to accept a spot in next month's Franklin Templeton Shootout.
Jacobsen, 2008 European Ryder Cup captain Nick Faldo, 2006 U.S. Ryder Cup team member J.J. Henry and Shootout favorite Steve Elkington were announced on Monday as the final four competitors in the 24-player field. This will be Jacobsen's 16th Shootout appearance in the tournament's 18 years.
"I hit balls on Saturday," said Jacobsen, who was operated on by Dr. Mort Bertram in Naples on Sept. 9. "I can't make a full swing yet. I'm hitting wedges."
 | | The Bonita Springs resident, three weeks removed from hip replacement surgery, completed the 24-person field along with Nick Faldo, J.J. Henry and Steve Elkington. |
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The 12 two-person teams will be announced next week. This will be Faldo's second Shootout. He played with Fred Funk in 2004. This will be the first appearance for Henry, who won the Buick Championship earlier this year. Elkington, the 1995 PGA Championship winner, has frequently been paired with Norman in past Shootouts.
"When it came down to the final hour, some tough decisions had to be made to complete this year's field," tournament founder and host Greg Norman said in a press release. "The list of players who wanted to play and were qualified to play was extensive.
"The high level of interest and desire by my fellow competitors to join us for a great week and a worthy cause is tremendous."
After the recent announcement of 16 players in the field, Norman said he had around 40 or so possible options for the final eight.
Jacobsen was on that tentative list. When Jacobsen released a statement announcing the impending surgery, he indicated he would try to defend his title at the ADT Skills Challenge, which will be taped Nov. 13-14, right after the Shootout, but did not mention playing in the Shootout itself.
"I'm really honored to be invited again," Jacobsen said.
Jacobsen may have wanted his doctor as a partner. Bertram, the reigning Naples city champion, played college golf at the University of Kentucky with PGA Tour player Russ Cochran, and when Bertram and Jacobsen played Old Collier Golf Club over the weekend, Bertram shot 2-under on the front nine.
"He's been great to me," Jacobsen said. "He calls me every day. I'm working with his rehab guys. I was walking nine days after surgery, unaided, no walker, no cane."
While Jacobsen admitted he was getting a little "stir crazy" sitting at home recuperating, he is making sure he doesn't do too much too soon. One of the keys to the rehabilitation is strengthening the muscles surrounding the hip.
"We don't want any setbacks," Jacobsen said. "We just want to keep taking steps forward."
Jacobsen has been following his Oregon Ducks while rehabilitating. Those would be the same Ducks who benefited from a replay official's error in a 34-33 win over Oklahoma a few weeks ago.
While Jacobsen agrees there was an error on a call allowing a disputed onsides kick to be recovered by Oregon, he did not agree with the lengths of Oklahoma's response. The school's president wrote a letter wanting the game erased from the record books, and head coach Bob Stoops continued to make an issue of it.
"This is a microcosm of life," said the Oregon alum, who also pointed out Oklahoma had a chance to win the game at the end, but the Ducks blocked a field goal attempt. "Sometimes life's not fair. I've had shots that hit the pin and bounced back in the water. I've seen guys hit a tree and the ball rolls on the green and they make a putt."
The completion of the field means Annika Sorenstam, the first female golfer to compete in the Shootout, will be playing with a male counterpart. There had been some speculation -- and Norman had left the door open -- that Sorenstam could be matched up with another female golfer.
Tickets to the Shootout went on sale Sept. 5. Reservations for the tournament's "Taste of WCI" package also are still being accepted. That $100 package includes one weekly grounds ticket, 48 golf vouchers to play 12 WCI courses for cart fee only, as well as eight all-day golf passes. Dates of availability are now through Oct. 31 and May 15-Oct. 31, 2007.
There are four other ticket options: Weekly pass, $60, for Wednesday through Sunday; Tournament daily grounds, $20 in advance or $25 at the gate, for Friday, Saturday or Sunday; 18th green reserved, $50 per day; Pro-am tickets, $15 in advance, $20 at the gate, for Wednesday or Thursday.
For tickets, call 1-888-66-SHARK, 254-9770, visit Alf's Golf Shop or go online to thesharkshootout.com.
One addition to this year's event is Military Appreciation Day. Veterans Day falls on Saturday of tournament week. The tournament will provide complimentary admission to all military personnel and veterans who present valid military identification. American flag pins will be distributed to the first 100 spectators through the gate.
On Friday, gates again will open for free late in the day to allow families to enter for the last couple of hours of the first round, as well as a clinic hosted by Norman on the driving range following play. It benefits the CureSearch National Childhood Cancer Foundation.
Children 12 and under will be admitted free with a ticketed adult during the event.
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